Aseptic package for surgical dressings.



H. A. SGHULZ. ASEPTIG PACKAGE FOR SURGICAL DRESSINGS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 1912.

Patented Apr. 7, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 P. A. H. A. SGHULZ.

ASEPTIG PACKAGE FOR SURGICAL mnssmes.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 1912.

Patented Apr. 7, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Tag. 5.

SATES FFIE.

ASE-PTIG PACKAGE FOR SURGICAL DRESSINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patent-ed Apr. 7, ram.

Application filed May 13, 1912. Serial No. 697,023.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL A. H. A. ScHULz, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Columbia, Richland county, State of South Carolina,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aseptic Packagesfor Surgical Dressings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to receptacles generally and. more particularlyto an aseptic package for surgical dressings including cotton, gauze,bandages, plasters, etc.

The invention has for one of its objects to construct a simple andinexpensive air-tight, germand dust-proof receptacle in which surgicaldressings may be kept and from which the dressings may be dispensed as.needed without disturbing the contents of the box or exposing morethereof than required.

Another object is to provide a construction which will permit theremoval of all the material for sterilization and the replacing of thesame without handling the material itself.

Further objects and the novel features of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description taken in connection with the drawing, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of my improvedpackage, a part thereof being broken away, the dressing being shown inoperative position therein. Fig. 2 is a central transverse verticalsectional view of the package. Fig. 3 is a plan .view of the frame ordressing supporting member in a blank form before the same is formed tobe positioned in the receptacle member. Fig. 4 is a perspective view ofa slightly modified form of package with the cover therefor removed.Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank for the modified form of frame beforethe same is formed to be positioned in the receptacle.

Referring to the drawings, the receptacle member in the preferred formcomprises an air-tight, germ and dust-proof box 10 provided either atboth ends or only one end with the side flaps 11' and 12 and the coverflap 13. The box and flaps thereon are formed of a single blank ofmaterial. The

tongue 14 of the cover flap 13 is tucked between the frame and box andhas a short length of flexible material 15 glued or otherwise secured tothe outer side thereof to serveas a means to raise the cover. The

frame which constitutes the dressing supporting'membcr is made from ablank of material of a width slightly less than the inner length of thebox member and of a length slightly less than twice the depth plus thewidth of the box. The blank for the frame has two creases or see-rings16 and 17 intermediate its ends so that the same may be bent or foldedto form an inverted U-shaped frame structure, the part corresponding tothe bottom of the U constituting a horizontal or inner cover portion 18intermediate the scores being of a widthequal to the inner width of thebox and a length slightly less than the inner length of the box. Theportions 19 and 20 of the blank comprise the parallel arms of the U andstand at right angles to the portion 18. The sections 19 and 20 are of alength slightly less than the depth of the box and constitute thesupporting members for the inner cover portion 16. The material M ismade in continuous roll form of a width equal to the distance betweenmembers 19 and 20 and is supported on said members for rotation by theremovable spindles or pins 21 and 22 which project through the sections19 and 20 of the frame. The length of each spindle is about half thewidth of the material and they are both headed at one end and pointed atthe end extending into the compact roll of material which, as usual, istightly wound. The spindles shown are round, however, they'may be offlat or triangular construction sharpened at the end. Such a spindlewill more effectively engage the material] The loose end of the materialis left of sufiicient length s0 that when the frame is set into the box,the said end will protrude therefrom at the top of either open end ofthe frame through a slot or opening between the edge of the coverportion 18 and the contiguous side of the box. When a length of thematerial is cut or torn off, the user leaves a short length by means ofwhich more may be withdrawn without necessitating the removal of theframe.

In case it is desired to remove the frame for replenishing or to put thesame into a sterilizer, a ring, cord or similar device 23 is secured tothe top section 18 by a staple 2 1 or other means, whereby the frame maybe lifted out and replaced without touching the roll of material.

Gauze,bandage, and other fabric is usually cut the length desired.However, absorbent cotton may be torn off. W'hen tearing ofi materialthe user presses the thumb down on the side flap over the strip totightly hold the material at the desired length. The edge of the flapprovides a tearing edge for said material and also renders itunnecessary to touch the remaining material.

When the package is closed the end of the material is left protrudingfrom the opening between the box andframe and fits against the top ofthe latter. The top of the frame being slightly lower than the top ofthe box, the material will notbulge the flaps on the box and the packagewill therefore present a neat appearance when closed. The frame and alsothe box may be made of any suitable material, such as cardboard,aluminum or any suitable metal. Those constructed of cardboard are morecheaply made and are adapted to be offered to the trade generally andafter being exhausted may be destroyed while the more expensive packagesused by physicians, dentists and other users in quantities, may berefilled by simply inserting a new roll of material into the frame. Inthe metal packages the flap portion may be hinged.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown a box 25,openat the upper end only and provided with a removable cover 26 havinga downwardly depending portion 27 around its edge which holds the coversecurely in place on the box.

There are thumb recesses 28' and 29 extend- .ing into the upper edges ofthe box on opposite sides, by means of which a finger and the thumb mayreadily engage the frame to remove the same. On account of the provisionof the recesses 28 and 29, the ring or loop at the top of the frame isomitted from this .form. The frame is cut froma blank of material and isscored to form the top section 30 and supporting sections 31 and 32 bentat right angles thereto as in the frame before described. The topsection 30 has a longitudinal opening 33 cut into the same. A'sheet 34of transparent material, such as celluloid, mica or the like, is gluedor otherwise secured to the inner side of the cover portion to cover theopening therein so that the condition of the contents of said frame maybe moving the same.

The use of the receptacle will be clear from the foregoing description.

It will be obvious that changes may be made in the package withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and therefore I do not wishto be limited to the exact details as shown and described.

Having thus described the invention What is claimed as new is:

1. The combination with a receptacle open at one end and adapted tocontain a roll of absorbent cotton or similar material, of a covertherefor providing a slot-like opening at the top through whichribbonobserved without relike material may be pulled, and a hingedflap-like extension of the side wall of the receptacle'adapted to lieacross the material pulled through the slot and cooperatingwith saidcover to furnish a holding means for the material pulled through theslot.

2. The combination with a box adapted to contain a. roll of absorbentcotton or similar material of a cover therefor having a slot-likeopening at one edge through which the ribbon-like material may bepulled, and a flap-like extension of the side of the box adjacent theslots, hinged along the side of said slot and adapted to lie across itand cooperating with said cover to pro- I vide a holding means for thematerial pulled through said slot-like opening.

3. The combination with a receptacle open at one end adapted to containa roll of absorbent cotton or similar material, of a removable coverfitting Tsaid open end providing a narrow slot-like opening for thepassage of said material, parallel members integral with the coverextending along the side to the bottom of the receptaole, and headedpins projecting through said members for rotatively supporting said rollof material, the heads of the pins engaglng the walls of the box toprevent displacement of the plns.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signa I ture in presence of twowitnesses.

PAUL A. H. A. SCHULZ'. I Witnesses:

JoHN T; MoCAN, CLAUD SLOAN.

